Chapter 85: Anger Laughed

Black Tower, this legendary genius, is now undergoing perhaps the most sudden, most unfathomable few seconds of her long life.

Xing's embrace came sudden and fierce; she could even feel Xing's arms tighten around her, as if conveying some silent support.

The thing that made her scalp tingle was that Xing's inner thoughts seemed to be faintly transmitted through the physical contact—(Black Tower Lady... smells so good... and so soft... indeed, no matter how strong the exterior, the interior is also soft and needs care...).

Also nearly causing her brain to stall were the words Xing whispered in her ear with a child‑coaxing, self‑satisfied gentle tone:

"You've worked hard, Black Tower Lady…"

"Your sister actually cares about you, so don't be angry…"

Sister???

Which dimension's sister popped out?!

Cares about me?!

Angry?!

Black Tower felt her all‑seeing mind was at this moment being shoved into a cloying paste called "Absurd".

She has lived this long, weathered countless storms, even faced the gaze of the Star God, yet never has there been a moment like now, feeling her personality and intellect being ground flat.

She could feel Xing's arms tighten a bit more, as if fully immersed in the "Touching Script" she herself had woven, even subconsciously rubbing?

(Is this Star Core Essence treating me as a giant doll?!)

An unnamed flame whooshed up from her heart.

She tried to struggle, but found Xing's strength unexpectedly great.

"Let go."

Black Tower's voice squeezed out between her teeth, trying to maintain her last bit of calm and composure.

She didn't want to stage an ugly physical clash in the Space Station's corridor.

However, Xing clearly misread the situation.

She held tighter, her voice bearing a certainty of "I understand all your strong pretenses": "Don't! I know Black Tower Lady, you're not easy! I already know everything from before! So…"

(So what?! What exactly did you say?!)

Black Tower felt the veins at her temples throb wildly.

Just as she was about to, disregarding decorum, employ some unconventional means to fling off this sticky taffy clinging to her—

a soft, rhythmic footstep approached from afar to near.

Black Tower's gaze passed over Xing's shoulder and caught a graceful figure—Ruan Mei.

The member of Genius Club #81 stood there quietly, dressed in simple elegant attire, her expression still that of Calm.

Yet Black Tower keenly sensed that in Ruan Mei's deep, well‑like eyes, upon seeing her and Xing locked in a tight embrace (at least from Ruan Mei's perspective), a fleeting complex emotional ripple flashed—surprise, and also… a hint of detached indifference?

That emotion vanished so quickly it seemed merely an illusion of light and shadow.

Ruan Mei's gaze met Black Tower's for a moment, then she gave a slight nod and said in her gentle voice:

"It seems I came at the wrong time. Sorry for the intrusion."

Having said that, she lingered not a moment, turned and left.

(It's over.)

The words flashed instantly in Black Tower's mind.

Being seen by anyone would be bad, but it was Ruan Mei!

This misunderstanding just blew up!

Ruan Mei's appearance was like a bucket of ice water, temporarily dousing Black Tower's rage, yet it made her sense a deeper crisis— a reputational crisis!

And the potentially ensuing, most despised and meaningless gossip!

This newly born anger, mixed with the earlier awkwardness, caused her voice to drop suddenly below freezing, bearing a pre‑storm calm, and rang again in Xing's ear:

"I'll say it one last time… if you don't let go, you—will—die—for‑sure."

This time, Xing's instinct finally overcame the mind filled with the "deep sisterly bond" story.

The chill in that voice seemed able to freeze a soul, sending a shiver down her spine; she instinctively released her arm, leapt back two steps, and widened the gap.

Only then did she see Black Tower's face—its features so refined like a work of art, now cloaked in an obvious gloom, the complexion so dark it seemed it could drip ink.

The violet eyes no longer held her usual rationality, but burned with an almost tangible fury.

(Oh, no!)

Xing's heart gave a thud, (like… she slipped? Is Black Tower Lady still angry at her sister? And such a huge temper? Can't even hug?)

She stared at Black Tower's storm‑cloud expression, and in her panic suddenly recalled her most important "Task item"!

She fumbled on her body, then, like presenting a treasure, cupped the exquisitely crafted yet dark‑style doll that starkly contrasted Black Tower's own aura, and carefully handed it to Black Tower, trying to ease the tension:

"B-Black Tower Lady! Look! This is… this is the gift your sister asked me to pass to you! She said… you'll surely miss this doll!"

Black Tower's gaze fixed on the doll.

Familiar!

Too familiar!

Isn't this the same doll Aisida once cradled like a treasure, only for her to analyze it and end up with her face covered in ash?!

The very thing apparently linked directly to the Behind the Scenes Black Hand that exiled her to another world!

Now, this doll, passed through Xing's hands and dubbed "sister's gift", appears before her again.

"Heh…"

A sound, almost a breath expelled from deep in her throat, came out of Black Tower's mouth.

She looked at the doll, then glanced at Xing's face, which wore a 'quickly praise me for being sensible' expression.

The Absurd, sarcastic, and angry emotions intertwined, breaching her last dam of Reason.

She laughed.

It wasn't a happy laugh, nor a joyful laugh, but a kind of flesh‑tugging "laugh".

Star saw Black Tower "laugh", and instantly let out a sigh of relief, patting her chest:

(She scared me to death; turns out Black Tower Lady was just too happy! Looks like she really misses her sister! She just feels embarrassed to express it!)

Feeling that the Task's completion rate was extremely high, Star couldn't help but once again display her "helping others for joy" spirit, earnestly urging: "Black Tower Lady, look, your sister has proactively sent gifts to make amends, so you shouldn't stay angry! Sisters don't hold grudges overnight! It's just that you were bullied when you were little… uh… that was ages ago! One must look forward!"

The more Star spoke, the more she felt she was a little angel of understanding, completely unaware that with each sentence she uttered, Black Tower's smile on her face grew ever more radiant, yet the frost in her eyes seemed about to freeze the surrounding space!

Especially the two words "bully" acted like the final catalyst, completely igniting the long‑suppressed volcano in Black Tower's heart.

"Ha ha… ha ha ha…"

Black Tower's laughter gradually grew louder, yet there was not a trace of warmth in it.

She laughed until her shoulders trembled slightly, as if she had heard the ultimate truth of the universe—a truth woven from lies, about herself, exceedingly vile. (What is Divine Nature?)

Star, infected by this "warm" smile, couldn't help but giggle along, feeling delighted inside:

(Looks like I really am a Genius Mediator! Now Black Tower Lady and her sister should be able to make up, right?)